Deathstar

There will be (Surfer) Blood

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010 | musiX | 4 Comments

I’m often drawn to bands based on their names … which is why I am a big fan of Italy’s Necrodeath—not to mention they sure can play some good jams.

Surfer Blood is another band I had to check out because of their handle. Quick word association: Surfer Blood, Great White shark, Jaws, Steven Spielberg, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Harrison Ford, Han Solo, the Millennium Falcon, tractor beams, the Death Star, Deathstar, brilliant noise-pop …

… which brings me back to Surfer Blood. Now, calling Surfer Blood brilliant would be a bit generous, but the four-piece is making some pretty fun and rambunctious rock out of West Palm Beach, Florida … a place I will likely never visit.

The band’s debut Astro Coast—which actually has a Great White on the cover—was recorded in a dorm room at the University of Florida. The familiar elements are there—Beach Boy harmonies, skuzzy guitars, ramshackle indie rock arrangements—and I must say these guys have managed to strike a perfect balance between them all, churning out songs that are sweet and reckless (and I will say that the second half of the 6-minute “Slow Jabroni” comes close to brilliance).

The almighty blogosphere has already latched on to these young lads like a fleshy chunk of Vampire Weekend-flavored chum, and will probably not let go for the duration of ‘10. For once I might be with them … then again, I also predicted big things for Necrodeath.

“Swim” - Surfer Blood

“Slow Jabroni” - Surfer Blood

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Rock in the sticks

Thursday, November 6th, 2008 | musiX | No Comments

I used to live in Chico, Calif. Yes, that Chico, Calif. The Chico, Calif., where parents send their kids for cheap education and where the kids spend their parents’ money on cheap drink specials. It’s an interesting place.

A fair share of notable bands have come out of Chico. Portland’s own Kelly Bauman fronted noise-pop outfit Deathstar in the ’90s. There’s Barbara Manning and 28th Day. Vomit Launch (which featured Tape Op’s Larry Crane on drums and Exiled Records‘ Lindsey Thrasher on the guitar). The Mother Hips. The Downsiders. And there are still some rockers and rollers there who keep it real like The Shankers, The Secret Stolen, Aubrey Debauchery and The Makai.

“Up the hill,” as Chicoans like to say, is the town of Paradise, a small bedroom community whose main street is lined with antique shops, where retirees go to escape the bustle of the Bay Area and L.A. Needless to say there’s not much going on there, although I think the town is getting a Wal-Mart soon.

About a year ago I heard about The Kevin Reid Project, five teenagers barely out of high school who were recording some spiffy pop songs in the pine-needled speck of Paradise. It started quietly in 2006 as the solo project of the band’s namesake guitarist, who soon recruited his brother Jacob and a few friends. Over the last couple of years The Kevin Reid Project has recorded about a dozen songs, played shows in Paradise and Chico and have taken more than a few hiatus (hiatuses? hiatii?).

The band just recorded a couple of new songs, which should find their way to a new EP soon, including an eerie little number called “Death”—clocking in at 1:21, no lyrics—easily my favorite. The production alone gets me on “Leave Me Alone” (recorded more than a year ago) … oh, and the hand claps. I promise you this: You might find yourself singing the song at inopportune times throughout the day. Trust me. You don’t want to scream “leave me alone” to the person handing you your coffee in the morning.

“Death” -The Kevin Reid Project

“Leave Me Alone” - The Kevin Reid Project

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